Future U.S. Ban on Seafood Imports Aims to Protect Marine Mammals

The U.S. is set to ban seafood imports from countries that don’t work to minimize accidentally catching dolphins, whales, and seals.

By Paul Smaglik
Jan 30, 2025 11:00 PMJan 30, 2025 11:01 PM
Bottlenose dolphin entanglement
Bottlenose dolphin entangled in fishing net. (Credit: Oasishifi/Shutterstock)

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Fish caught by methods that can also entangle whales, dolphins, and seals will be banned from U.S. import, starting Jan. 1, 2026, according to a recent agreement.

Conservation groups earlier this month made a deal with the U.S. government to stop importing seafood that doesn’t meet marine mammal protection standards. U.S. fishers must also follow similar standards in domestic waters.

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